Member or structure vibrated by energy impulses



y 1, 1931, R. 1:. MALUNA 1, 13, 79

MEMBER QR STRUCTURE VIBRATED BY ENERGY IMPULSES Filed Oct. 10, 1928'n-gggg'ggmn 13 10 I If b1 12 17 18 5 be A. P In;

J 15 Cl 0 p' Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED ST TES PATENT. OFFICE RUDOLPHF. MALLIN A, 0F ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO VICTOR TALK- IN GMACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY MEMBER OR STRUCTUREVIBRATED BY ENERGY IMPULSES Application filed October 10, 1928,. SerialNo. 811,481. I

My invention relates to a member or structure partaking of vibratorymotion under the influence of energy impulses having a frequency,usually, varying between 1t} and 20,000 cycles per second or thosehaving a frequency of the order usually encountered in s eech 01; musictransmission.

y invention.relates to a member or structure, as aforesaid, utilized totransmit or.

transfer energy impulses, as .afores'aid, from one region to another orfrom a transmitting member to a receiving member.

My invention relates to a member or structure, as aforesaid, as an armor bar to which vibratory motion is imparted by a transmitting member orsystem, as a phonograph rec 0rd or a magnetic structure, the energyimpulses actuating or controlling a suitablerecc'iving member or system,as a diaphragm, armature, or the flux in a magnetic circuit.

In accordance with my invention, a memher or structure, as aforesaid,comprises an elongated, hollow circumferentially complete part orsection adjacent the end thereof from which impulse energy istransferred to a receiving member or system, diaphragm, or equivalenFurther in accordance with one form of my invention, the aforesaid partor section is substantially rectangular in cross-section and is shapedor folded from a suitable blank of sheet material.

Further in accordance with my invention, a member or structure, asaforesaid, com prises a body portion having hinge or pivot wingstructure formed integrally therewith, and more particularly, saidmember or structure comprises a blank of sheet material.

which, after being suitably shaped, has hinge wings formed integrallytherewith and disposed on opposite sides thereof.

Further in accordance with my invention, a member or structure, asaforesaid, comprises a shaped member of sheet material terminating atoneend in a web section having spaced wing hinges disposed substantially atrlight angles thereto and connected therewit Further in accordance withmy invention, a blank of sheet material, usually plane in configuration,is shaped or formed to produce an elongated, hollow, circumferentiallycomplete part or section for transmitting en ergy impulses.

urther in accordance with my invention,

one or more hinge wings is or are folded from a blank of sheet material,another portion of said blank being shaped to produce an elongated,hollow, "circumferentially complete part or section, as aforesaid.

' In accordance with one important phase of my invention, the aforesaidmember or structure is an arm or bar -carrying, at one end, a stylus orneedle, the other end thereof being connected toa sound-producingdiaphra gm. The detailed description following hereafter refers to aconstruction of the character last described although it shall beunderstood that my invention is not to be thus limited. a

My invention resides in the member or structure, article, method, andfeatures of construction of the character hereinafter described andclaimed.

For an illustration of some of the forms my novel member or structure,or article may take and for an understanding of my method, reference isto be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a blank or stamping of sheet materialdestined to form the body'portion of a needle arm or stylus bar.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are perspective views illustrating steps of the foldingoperation.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a shaped needle arm member insubstantiallyits complete or finished form.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a two-piece needlearm or stylus bar constructed in accordance with iny invention.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View, partly in elevation, of the blanksillustrated in Fig. 6 after they have been assembled. Fig. 8 isa-vertical sectipnal view, partly in elevation, of my novel needle armor stylus bar partly broken away, and associated parts of a sound box.

Fig. 9 is a front elevational view of a part of the sound boxillustrated in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a transverse, horizontal sectional view taken on the line1010 of Fig. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of'another form of aneedle arm or stylus bar body portion.

Referring to Fig. 1. there is illustrated a blank, stamping or part I tobe comprised in the aforesaid member, structure, bar or arm andcomprising, in general, a body portion or section a provided with slotsa1, a1 extending inwardly and toward one end thereof. Formed integrallywith the blank I3 and pro- Jecting from an end thereof is an extensionb-while from the other end the spaced wing members .0, 0 project.Ordinarily, the blank B is of plane configuration, or substantially so,and is stamped from sheet material. In accordance with my invention, theconfiguration of blank B is subjected to a plurality of.

shaping operations to produce the body section proper of a needle arm ofstylus bar.

By the first shaping operation, the wings 0, c and, in accordance withthe co-pending Stapler application Serial No. 312,911, filed Oct. 10,1928, a connecting neck portion 01 for said wings 0, 0 are bent orfolded along a line substantially as indicated by the broken line 1,Fig. 1, into a position substantially at right angles with respect tothe body portion a to impartto the partially shaped member theconfiguration illustrated in Fig. 2. Y

As the next step in the shaping operation, the body portion a is bent orfolded along lines substantially as indicated by the broken lines 2, 2,Fig. 1, to produce the flanges (Z, a l positioned substantially at rightangles with respect to that part of the body section a remainingunaltered, said flanges d, d pro jecting in a direction the oppositefrom the direction in which the wings a, 0 project, Fig. 3. Thepartially shaped member after having been manipulated in the manner justdescribed is illustrated in Fig. 3.

Thereafter, the body portion a is bent or folded along linessubstantially as indicated by the broken lines 3, 3, Fig. 1 to producethe upstanding, parallel walls illustrated in Fig. 4, these parallelwalls having the flanges (Z, d extending in opposite directionstherefrom and at right angles with respect thereto. The slots a1, al areprovided to permit this folding operation. i

As the next and final step of the body portion shaping operation, theupper portions of the aforesaid upstanding walls illustrated in Fig. 4are bent or folded inwardly toward each other along lines substantiallyas indicated by the broken lines 4, 4, Fig. 1, the por- .ti0nsdesignated by said broken lines, of

course, having been previously folded-pp: wardly to form the upstandingwalls shown in F 4Q Iii'this, the final step of the body portion shapingoperation, a structure of the character illustrated in 5 is producedwherein flanges (Z, (Z have been brought into contacting relation, orsubstantially so, said flanges tluireaftenbcing soldered, or otherwisesuitably secured together, whereby there is produced the main bodyportion of the needle arm which, as clearly illustrated, comprises atube-like member generally rectangular in cross-section.

As hereinafter more fully described, the aforesaid blank B, after beingshaped as described, is associated, when the shaped blank constitutes,for example, a needle arm or stylus bar. directly with a sound-producingor sound box diaphragm by connection therewith of its extension 6. Theshaped member. at its other end. is adapted to receive and retain amember B1, Figs. 6 and 7, with which a talking machine needle or stylusis adapted to be directly associated.

In the example illustrated, member B1 is generally rectangular inconfiguration and comprises a solid body of metal formed, preferably, bya stamping operation. The upper surface thereof. as illustrated in Figs.6 and 7, ordinarily comprises a lug or extension 9' and, as described inthe aforesaid co-pendin'g Stapler application a cross-wise slot h. Thebottom surface thereof, as illustrated in said Figs. 6 and 7, comprisesa shouldered port-ion 2' while the rear surface thereof may be inclinedas indicated at j. Disposed axially of the member B1 and extending asuitable distance thereinto is a passage or opening k for the receptionof a phonograph needle or stylus Z which is retained in the positionillustrated in Fig. 8 by the shank of a clamping screw on threaded in apassage opening into the aforesaid passage at right angles with respectthereto and passing through the lug g.

In the example illustrated, member B1 is assembled with or secured tothe shaped member by passing the shouldered end of said member B1 intothe open end of the chamber formed by the walls obtained from the bodysurface 71 of member B1 may be readily 1 12D brought into engagementwith the adjacent end of the lower wall, Fig. 7, of the shaped member.Thereafter, the wings a, 0 and their connecting neck 01 may be restoredto substantially the position from which they were bent, the neck 01 atits central portion passing within the slot h of member B1. After beingassembled in this manner,al1 adjacent "and contacting surfaces of thetwo members should be soldered together.

A needle arm or stylus bar of the character hereinbefore described isillustrated in Fig. 8 as forming part of a talking machine or phonographsound box. This sound box may be of any suitable character and in Fig.8is illustrated as comprising a base section 10 terminating in a tubularconduit 10a adapted to be associated with the tone arm of a soundamplifying horn. A diaphragm 11 of any suitable character which,however, in the example illustrated, is of the type illustrated in theco-pending Stapler application Serial No. 311,553, filed Oct. 10, 1928,is received at its peripheral edge between washers 12, 12, a cap member13 cooperating with a ring 14 threaded thereto to retain the diaphragm11 in the position illustrated in Fig. 8. One

side of the cap member 13 may be skeletonlike, by virtue of which oneside of the diaphragm 11 is placed in direct communication, through aplurality of passages, with the surrounding atmospheric medium. On theside of the diaphragm 11 facing the conduit 10a, there may be disposed aplug or member 18 for producing properly. dimensioned paths for thepropagated sound waves.

In the example illustrated, the needle arm or stylus bar is secured tothe diaphragm 11 only at the mid-point thereof, the member I)constituting a tie member between the needle arm proper and thediaphragm, said member 6, in the example shown, passing through abushing disposed centrally of the diaphragm and being suitabl securedthereto, as by a mass of wax or so der, not shown.

The Wings 0 constitute the hinging or pivotal support for the needle armor stylus bar and they may be supported in any suitable manner. To thisend, in the example shown,the cap section 13 is provided with the lugsor members 15 projecting laterally therefrom, each of the aforesaidwings a, 0 being received between one face of a lug 15 and a plate ormember 16. In the example shown, each wing c. is provided, during thestamping operation, with a passage 02 through each of which and alinedpassages in a lug 15 and member 16 extends a bolt 17 for clamping thewings and for pivotally mounting the needle arm in the positionillustrated in Fig. 8. In this manner, the needle arm may be mounted forhinging or pivotal movement and, due to the fact that the wings 0, c areconstructed of resilient material, said needle arm is self-restoring inthe sense that, of its own volition, it tends to return to an originalposition after being moved from such position.

Energy impulses set up by the phonograph or talking machine record aretransmitted to the sound producing diaphragm by the thereto-connectedneedle arniiori stylus-bar. It is highly desirable, therefore, that thelatter be so constructed as to be freely vibratable in one plane,readily restorable to an original position, and resistant to vibrationin planes other than said one plane. A needle arm constructed andmounted as hereinbefore described and illustrated is readily movable orvibratable only in the forward and reverse direction in which it moveswhen moving the diaphragm 11 or the central portion thereof side-wise ineither direction. In other words, if the parts were positioned asillustrated in Fig. 8, the needle arm would be readily vibratable in theplane of the paper, the pivotal or hinging axis of said needle armsubstantially coinciding with a line wai, Fig. 10, passing through thoseportions of the wings c, c at the ends of the lugs 15.

At the same time, due to the construction and arrangement of parts, theneedle arm is not freely vibratable or movable in a directionlongitudinally thereof, nor in that direction in which it would moveunder the influence of friction imposedby the record which, were theparts positioned as illustrated in Fig. 8, would be substantially atright angles to the plane of the paper. The non-vibratory or non-movablefeatures of the needle arm noted immediately above arise primarily dueto the provision of a web or section n which remains in the originalplane of blank B between the slots a1, a1 and the line 1 u on which theblank was first folded. This we or section n and, in accordance with the.co-pending Stapler application Serial No. 312,911, neck 01 connect thewings a, c and constitute a structural an le section which effectivelyimpedes and su stantially prevents needle arm movement longitudinallythereof and in the direction imposed by rec- 0rd friction, as aforesaid.Moreover, said web or section n and the connecting neck 01, in effect,form a truss or support which braces the wings a, c and the shaped bodyportion a.

A needle arm or stylus bar constructed and mounted in accordance with myinven tion, besides possessing the desirable pivotal or hingingcharacteristic noted above, is of small weight, particularly thematerial from which the blank B was formed, which may be elastic orresilient in character, as steel or bronze having a thickness of theorder of 0.008 of an inch, more or less. Due to this feature, the momentof inertia about the axis mw is small and, as a result, the quality ofsound production is improved.

A feature of my invention of distinct importance involves the provisionof a needle arm, or equivalent, comprising an elongated hollow,circumferentially complete part or section, such as the member formedfrom the blank B. Except for the part thereof occupied by the member.131, said member formed. from the blank B, entirely hollow, extends tosubstantially the region where engagement is effected with thediaphragm. Due to its shape, even though hollow, the member formed fromthe blank B is sufficiently strong to be substantially or largely freeof any deformation or flexing by reason of motion imparted thereto bythe talking machine needle or stylus. Moreover, since said member formedfrom the blank B is circumferentially complete, free or unsupportedwalls, such as exist, for example, with or in a channel section, areabsent and, accordingly, the formation of local vibrations in the needlearm is impeded or ,prevented, this, of course, improving the quality ofsound production.

Although the member formed from the blank B has been illustrated anddescribed as formed from a member which is brought to a configurationgenerally rectangular in cross-section, it shall be understood that myinvention is not to be thus limited. Thus, for example, in lieu of ashaped member, or one that is formed from a stamping, there may beutilized an elongated, hollow, circumferentially complete member formedin any suitable manner and having any suitable cross-sectlonal form. Inany event, 1t 1s desirable that the member formed 'fromthe blank B, orequivalent, as just described, be tapered ina direction leading from theneedle arm hingin'g support toward the center of the diaphragm. Thisconstruction decreases the needle arm weight without sacrifice ofstrength.

Although a feature of my invention involves the provision, on each sideof the needle arm, or equivalent, of hinge wings, such as the wings c, 0formed integrally with the body portion a, it shall be understood thatmy invention is not be thus limited, for under some circumstances, itmay be desirable to utilize some other type ofpivoting or hingingarrangement. In such case, however, it

desirable to dispose a hollow, circumferenti-a l ly complete member orstructure between th'e'Zneedle arm pivot and diaphragm center,

the integral hinge wings, or wings of any character whatsoever beingomitted. However, it may be desirable to utilize hinge wings with aconstruction of the character last described, the wings, however, notbeing formed integrally with the hollow, circumfer ently completemember.

' It is highly desirable that the connecting member 6 be formedintegrally with the needle arm proper and this may readily beaccomplished by forming the part b by the same die structure that formsthe blank B. In accordance with my invention and in contra-distinctionto prior art arrangements, the diaphragm is connected by a single member6, and still further distinguishing from prior art arrangements, saidmember I) is stiff and rigid in a direction longitudinally thereof andfreely flexible or pliable in that plane'at right angles to thediaphragm and in which the longitudinal axis of the needle arm isincluded, Fig. 8. Moreover, since the material forming the blank B isvery thin,--it follows that the mass of the tie member 6 is kept small,this being highly desirable.

The tie member 6 may lead direct to the diaphragm or, preferably and asillustrated, the connection may be circuitous and comprise a U-shapedbend Z21, or equivalent, by virtue of which the flexibility of the tieconnection is improved. It should also be noted that there is a portion62 of the tie member Z) beyond the hollow, circumferentially completebody portion of the member formed from blank B. This portion 62 of thetie member is substantially in alinement with one wall of said structureand, during a period of sound production, flexing or giving action inthe needle grm proper largely occurs in portions 51 and To furtherenhance the freedom with which the needle arm pivotally moves in thedesired direction, as aforesaid, material may be removed from the axisw-m. In the example shown, this result is attained by forming, duringthe stamping operation, a. plurality of openings or holes 03 in thoseregions of the wings c, 0 destined to fall within the aforesaid axisw-zv.

It will be observed that the hinge wings a, c which are formedintegrally with the member formed from the blank B are disposed onopposite sides thereof and equal distances from the diaphragm 11.Preferably, said wings c, c are placed in a single plane disposedsubstantially at right angles to the plane of diaphragm 11 which, in theexample illustrated, is a plane passing between the rings 12, 12. Thisfeature is of distinct importance since, with a construction of thecharacter illustrated, the diaphragm velocity, i. e. side-wisevibration, is largely or substantially independent of deflection orbending of the needle arm hinge wings, a condition which is notsatisfied when said hinge wings are disposed in a plane substantiallyparallel with the plane of the diaphragm.

Referring to Fig. 11, there is illustrated a shaped part or element Ywhich corresponds with the shaped part or element shown in -Figs. 5 and6 save that the body portion is circumferentially incomplete rather thancomplete. A needle arm, or equivalent, of the character illustrated inFig. 11 may be formed from a blank of the type shown in Fig. 1 if thematerial on each side thereof outwardly of the lines 4, f is omitted.

the completed blank may be produced by performing all of the foldingoperations substantially simultaneously. Moreover, forming dies, notshown, usually are necessary to bring the blank to its properconfiguration.

Although the aforesaid members, structnres, bars or arms have beenillustrated and described as operated by a phonograph or talking machinerecord, it shall be understood that my invention is not to be thuslimited. Thus, for example, said members. structures, bars or arms maybe magnetically actuated, the needle or stylus, in such case, beingomitted.

Although the hereinbetore describedmembers, structures, bars or armshave been specifically referred to for diaphragm-actuating purposes, itshall be distinctly understood that my invention is not to be limited tosuch an arrangement. Thus. for example, said members. structures, barsor arms, actuated or vibrated by a stylus or needle, or otherwise asdesirable, may be utilized to transter impulse energy to the vibratingelement or to serve as the vibrating element of any device for whichthey are adapted. particularly devices which vibrate in accordance withsound.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A vibratable member comprising a structure shaped from sheet materialand tcrminating at one end in a web section, and spaced wing hingesdisposed substantially-at right angles to said web section and connectedthereto.

2. A vibratable member comprising a body portion including a websection, and spaced wing hinges disposed substantially at right anglesto said Web section and connected thereto.

3. A vibratable member comprising a structure shaped from sheet materialand having a hollow, circumferentially complete portion substantiallyrectangular in crosssection, one wall of said hollow portion terminatingin a web section of greater Width than said wall, and spaced wing hingesdisposed substantially at right angles to said web section and connectedthereto.

4. A device of the class described comprising a hollow eircumferentiallycomplete member having fiat sides, one of said sides being extendedbeyond said circumferentially complete member and being widened to forma web, said web having portions extending atright angles thereto to formsupporting hinges for said device.

5. In combination with a member to be vibrated, a vibratable membercomprising a hollow circumferentially complete portion having a sectionextending beyond the end of said member to form a narrow flexible strip,said strip being adapted to be secured to a member to be vibrated andhaving a U-shaped bend therein.

6. A vibratable member comprising a hollow circumferentially completeportion haviig 'a seetiion extending beyond one endthereof'to' for'manarrow flexible strip, strip being adapted to be secured to a membertobe vibrated and having a U-shaped bend therein, and laterallyext'endingwings secured to said circumferentially' complete portion for supportingsaid device. 7 A vibratory device of the class described, comprising ahollow circumferentially complete member having fiat sides, one of saidsides being extended beyond one end of said member to form a narrowflexible strip, said strip being adapted to be secured to a member to bevibrated and having a U- shaped bend therein, and one of said sidesbeing extended beyond the other end of said circumferentially completemember and terminating in a web section having laterally extendingsupporting wings. 8. A vibratable member comprising a hol-' lowcircumferentially complete portion hav-,.

ing fiat sides, one of said sides being extended beyond one end of saidportion to form a narrow flexible strip, said strip being adapted to besecured to a device to be vibrated and having a U-shaped bend therein,and one of said sides being extended beyond the other end of saidcircumferentially complete portion and widened to form a Web, said Webhaving portions extending at right angles CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION,

Patent No. 1,813,579. Granted July 7, 1931, to

RUDOLPH F. MALLINA.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1,line 79, for the word "drawings" read drawing; page 5, lines 51 and 52,claim 5, strike out "In combination with a member to be vibrated"; line52, the article "a" first occnrrence should be capitalized; and that thesaid Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of September. A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

